The Hook Brings You Back
Eggs, bacon, and toast
STOP! If you have not read the first story in this two part series, please do so. It is below.
Hopefully, you took time to read or listen to the first story in this series. The hunting trip did not end there. The last story ended before we even made our way into the forrest the next morning.
The Hunt Begins
As I was explaining, we rose early the next morning and gathered our belongings. It was still dark and very cold. Often times, hunters enter the woods before daylight to get situated and begin the hunt.
I was a teenager at the time, so my dad walked me to the position the group had chosen for me to stake out. This time I would be hunting from the ground instead of from a tree stand. So, I nestled into a little nest I made for myself out of my gear and quickly fell asleep.
Yes, I fell asleep. You heard me say that I am not a skilled hunter. Truth be told, I am no hunter at all. It’s OK. I am good with that.
You need to understand that it was very cold, and there was a strong breeze blowing. No matter how many times I tried to adjust my position around the tree, the wind kept find me and hitting me in the face. I was completely miserable.
The rest of our crew were true hunters. While they might have been uncomfortable, the thought of taking down a trophy dear kept them in position. However, I was seeking something I valued much more than a wall hanger…comfort.
Seeking comfort
As daylight was breaking and the hunt was on, I had reached the end of my patience. My body was shivering, my hands were frozen, and I was sleepy after spending most of the night awake in fear of a ventriloquist dummy. It was time for me to find a place to take a nap.
Seriously, if you have not read the first story in this series, you are missing some important data that would help you understand my state of mind.
I stood quietly, and gathered my things. After throwing my pack over my shoulder, I made my way to my dad’s truck which was parked up by the old creepy house at the front side of the hunting property. My options were limited with regard to places to take a nap, so it would have to do.
My dad had an old 1979 Toyota SR5 mini pickup truck with a camper top on the bed. We had just recently put a bed frame and mattress in the back to outfit it for camping, so I was excited to be able to lay on a real mattress to get some rest. The camper top also provided a blocker for the wind.
Knowing that the hunters were still stationed across the woods, I kept my movements slow and quiet, so not as to disturb the wildlife. Upon crawling into the bed, I lowered the glass and shut myself in. Within minutes I was fast asleep.
The man with the hook hand
I know some of you are going to get mad at me for this next section. And I get it. However, you have no idea what this experience was like for me as a teenager. To say it was traumatic is not enough.
Suddenly, my eyes sprung open to a rap, tap, tapping on the glass door of the camper top. Surely this was the wind causing a tree limb to rub against the top, or a nut falling from a tree. I shut my eyes tight, laid motionless, and tried to go back to sleep.
The rapping and tapping came again, more loudly this time than before. I leaped out from under my jacket which I had been using for a makeshift blanket and hit my head on the roof of the camper top. My heart jumped as I saw a man standing outside the truck.
At the end of his right arm was a hook. It was one of those hooked prostheses, where the hook can split open to help grab hold of things. Regrettably, I immediately saw this man as a threat.
As I sat there hoping he would just walk away, he lifted his hand again to tap against the door to get my attention. “Son, you doing OK in there? Are you cold?” I was cold. At this point, I couldn’t tell if it was the fear or the temperature that had me shivering.
“I am fine,” I said. “Just taking a nap while my dad and friends are hunting.”
The man explained that he owned the property and was the one who gave our friend permission to bring his crew there to hunt. He said his wife had just made breakfast if I wanted to come inside where it was warm and wait for the others to return.
Eggs, bacon, and toast
The nice gentleman walked me to the main house on the property, which was within site of the truck. He introduced me to his wife and I sat inside with them until my dad arrived with our crew later in the morning. We enjoyed breakfast and talked about a number of subjects.
My dad and our friends came over to see if I was at the house with the family since I was no where else to be found. When they walked in the front door, they found me sitting on the couch watching television and listening to an old police scanner on a side table. My belly was full and I was completely rested.
The old man and his wife told the crew that we had enjoyed a wonderful breakfast and some great conversation. Our whole crew was in disbelief that I had been warm and fed a full breakfast while they sat in the cold damp woods. To make it worse, no one bagged a dear that day.
Conclusion
Look, some people are hunters and some people are not. I enjoy being outdoors, and I am personally not offended by proper hunting methods. My family has always hunted within the law and eaten what we kill.
Some of us are better suited for sitting and enjoying some hot coffee and breakfast in the comforts of a home. After a night of joking about a maniacal puppet, I think I deserved this rest. To each their own.
